Dr. Ronda Chakolis

Good morning. Thank you so much for having me. It is wonderful to be back on Health Chatter, conversating with everyone here. Again, my name is Dr. Rhonda Marie Chocolis. I am a pharmacist, born and raised, as Clarence pointed out, in North Minneapolis. I still live in North Minneapolis. That's a huge thing.

Good morning. Thank you so much for having me. It is wonderful to be back on Health Chatter, conversating with everyone here. Again, my name is Dr. Rhonda Marie Chocolis. I am a pharmacist, born and raised, as Clarence pointed out, in North Minneapolis. I still live in North Minneapolis. That's a huge thing.

Um, if you're from the North side of Minneapolis, it's, it's, um, and I went to North high school. So, um, part of my identity is tied to that, but also part of my identity is tied to being a pharmacist, the first BIPOC woman to ever be president of the Minnesota board of pharmacy. Um, and well over a hundred years, the board of pharmacy is designed to protect the public and, um,

Um, if you're from the North side of Minneapolis, it's, it's, um, and I went to North high school. So, um, part of my identity is tied to that, but also part of my identity is tied to being a pharmacist, the first BIPOC woman to ever be president of the Minnesota board of pharmacy. Um, and well over a hundred years, the board of pharmacy is designed to protect the public and, um,

In keeping with my tradition, I do have to say that I will have views and opinions on this program. They are my own and don't represent the entities that I work with or who I'm affiliated with, but I am excited to be here and provide some background. My background is a little unique in that I still do a lot of community engagement work. I am lecturing at the University of Minnesota.

In keeping with my tradition, I do have to say that I will have views and opinions on this program. They are my own and don't represent the entities that I work with or who I'm affiliated with, but I am excited to be here and provide some background. My background is a little unique in that I still do a lot of community engagement work. I am lecturing at the University of Minnesota.

I'm involved with clinical trials, so my life in terms of Being a pharmacist, I would say I'm living the dream. And so thank you so much for having me today. Thank you. Well, thank you.

I'm involved with clinical trials, so my life in terms of Being a pharmacist, I would say I'm living the dream. And so thank you so much for having me today. Thank you. Well, thank you.

Yeah, I knew very early on if some of the earliest, and I will date myself, my parents were probably one of the first people in the neighborhood to get a video camera. And at the time, at the time on these VHS tapes, I charted my pathway out for myself at the age of five. And so there were a couple of things that I said I wanted to be. I said I wanted to be

Yeah, I knew very early on if some of the earliest, and I will date myself, my parents were probably one of the first people in the neighborhood to get a video camera. And at the time, at the time on these VHS tapes, I charted my pathway out for myself at the age of five. And so there were a couple of things that I said I wanted to be. I said I wanted to be

either a doctor, a nurse, or a pharmacist that I wanted to get somebody to do my chores for me. And then I want it to be, um, I want it to be a boss. And so there's times where I go back and reflect on that and say, so what is it that got me from being a doctor, from a doctor, from a nurse, a pharmacist. And I will tell you, um, I have had, um,

either a doctor, a nurse, or a pharmacist that I wanted to get somebody to do my chores for me. And then I want it to be, um, I want it to be a boss. And so there's times where I go back and reflect on that and say, so what is it that got me from being a doctor, from a doctor, from a nurse, a pharmacist. And I will tell you, um, I have had, um,

people in my family have very adverse reactions to medications. Like my mother on one occasion almost died from getting a medication that she was allergic to. And I just also saw a local African-American pharmacist in North Minneapolis who was very engaged in the community. And I was like, I want to be like that person. I want to be involved. I want to be approachable. And I want to

people in my family have very adverse reactions to medications. Like my mother on one occasion almost died from getting a medication that she was allergic to. And I just also saw a local African-American pharmacist in North Minneapolis who was very engaged in the community. And I was like, I want to be like that person. I want to be involved. I want to be approachable. And I want to

be connected to community. But we all know in this country that medication is the mainstay often of therapy. And so I wanted to be part of the solution. I saw what my mom went through. I saw what other people went through. And I wanted to solve for that and prevent problems. And so that is part of the reason why I became a pharmacist.

be connected to community. But we all know in this country that medication is the mainstay often of therapy. And so I wanted to be part of the solution. I saw what my mom went through. I saw what other people went through. And I wanted to solve for that and prevent problems. And so that is part of the reason why I became a pharmacist.

Yeah. So I first of all, I like to talk about one people. One thing that people don't know about me is that I'm actually my undergrad is in history. I'm a history major and a religious studies minor.

Yeah. So I first of all, I like to talk about one people. One thing that people don't know about me is that I'm actually my undergrad is in history. I'm a history major and a religious studies minor.

Yeah. And so I think that's what kind of makes me a little more well-rounded and grounded in history. So I think about the earliest pharmacists, right? They were more of the apothecary type. You know, pharmacists were responsible for like the soda fountains and, you know, our Dr. Pepper and those things that we love, but also being very very approachable and connected in the community.

Yeah. And so I think that's what kind of makes me a little more well-rounded and grounded in history. So I think about the earliest pharmacists, right? They were more of the apothecary type. You know, pharmacists were responsible for like the soda fountains and, you know, our Dr. Pepper and those things that we love, but also being very very approachable and connected in the community.